Firecracker Goji Berry

Firecracker is an early-fruiting goji selection grown as an edible, ornamental shrub. It bears small fragrant purple flowers followed by large, bright red berries; the exact-selection source describes it as self-pollinating and says it ripens from midsummer into mid-fall. ## Garden use Plant it in a sunny or partly shaded edible garden, border, or mixed shrub planting. The upright, flexible growth can be pruned or staked in spring to fit the space and keep branches accessible for harvest. Kew classifies Lycium barbarum in the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and recognizes it as a shrub native to north and central China. ## Growing conditions Choose a well-drained site; the selection profile describes the plant as adaptable to most well-drained soils, with moisture needs ranging from average to dry. Its published mature dimensions are approximately 5–6 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide. Allow room for its spreading, sometimes climbing stems, and provide a support if you prefer a more upright shape. The berries are edible and can be harvested as they color; the listed midsummer-to-mid-fall season is a source-specific estimate rather than a fixed local calendar. ## Maintenance Trim or stake in spring to manage its flexible canes. [NVK Nurseries’ exact-selection profile](https://www.nvknurseries.com/plant/Goji-Berry-Lycium-barbarum-Firecracker) · [Kew Plants of the World Online: Lycium barbarum](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:816356-1).